Scaffolding device



Aug. 4, 1964 Filed Nov. 13, 1961 L.. DAMIANO SCAFFOLDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS All@ 4, 1954 L. DAMIANO 3,143,328

SCAFFOLDING DEVICE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,143,328 SCAFFOLDING DEVICE Luigi Damiano, 130 Farm St., Providence, RJ. Filed Nov. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 151,743 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-228) This invention relates to a scaifolding device of a type particularly designed for use in connection with a bridge having steel framework.

In the building of bridges, after the main supporting structure of the steelwork is completed and the oor or roadway of the bridge is laid, it is customary to build on one or both edges of the bridge a sidewalk or a fence needing posts to support the same. To do this requires scaffolding which in the past has been usually of wood erected by carpenters from wooden lengths 2 x 6 and 2 x 4 inches in cross section, which was time consuming and correspondingly expensive.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simpler construction which may be attached to the I- beam structure of a bridge in place of the wooden scaffolding which has heretofore been used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure which may be substantially completely re-used many times.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which may be set in position by clamps for securing the scaffolding in place.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. l is a top plan view of a fragmental portion of the scaffolding projecting outwardly from a portion of a bridge structure;

FIG. 2 is an elevation partly broken away and in section showing in section a portion of the bridge structure and taken substantially from the right-hand end of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a section on substantially line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a section on substantially line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

In proceeding with this invention, there is provided a beam to which there has been attached an upstanding inverted L-shape bracket through the overhanging arm of which a screw clamp extends to engage the inner surface of the elongated member which is I shape in cross section of the bridge so as to clamp the beam to the lower edge of this I section, and for additional support there is provided a yoke which may slide along this beam toward and from the L-shape bracket for the combination of different size I-shape members and which may be useful for clamping the beam to the I section on the other side of the I section.

With reference to the drawings, designates a part of a bridge structure running lengthwise of the bridge and which is elongated and is I shape as shown in cross section, thus providing a vertically extending web 11 with upper lateral companion flanges 12 and 13 and lower latteral companion flanges 14 and 15. It is to the lower lateral companion flanges 14 and 15 to which the structure of this invention is secured.

The device which is the subject of this application comprises a plurality of unit structures designated generally 16, two of which are shown in FIG. l. Each of these unit structures comprises an elongated beam 17 which in the present instance is of I-shape cross section having an upper planar surface 18 which may engage the lower planar surface of the companion anges 14 and 15 of the bridge structure. An L-shape bracket 19 comprising two L-shape plates 20, each having a vertical arm 21 and ICCV a horizontal arm 22, are secured to the opposite sides of the beam 17. A bridging block 23 extends between these arms 22, and through this bridging block there is a threaded opening 25 in which there is a threaded shaft 24. A handle 26 is secured at the top of the shaft by which it may be screwed down against the inner surface 27 of the lateral flange 14, thus bringing the beam 17 snugly up against the lower surface of the companion flanges 14 and 15 and clamping it in position while its outboard end 46 is supported a substantial distance therefrom.

Cooperating with the clamp above referred to, there is a yoke 28 which is of a size to slidably embrace the inboard end 47 of the beam. This yoke has opposite side walls 29 and a top wall 3G from which there projects a threaded stud 31. A lever in the form of a flat rigid plate 32 is provided with an opening 33 through which the stud 31 may extend, and the hole is of such a size that it is freely movable on the stud 31. The yoke 28 will be positioned close to the ange 15 of the bridge structure, and its end will engage the ange of the bridge structure as at 34. At a point on the opposite side of the opening 33 from the point of engagement 34, a threaded member 35 will be threadingly received at 36 through the plate so that its end 37 will bear against the upper surface 1S of the beam. Thus as the screw 35 is turned downwardly by a wrench engaging its head 38, the plate will tend to swing upwardly about its pivot 34 in order that the plate may bind upon the bridge structure. An adjustable connection of the plate to the yoke is provided by means of a nut 39 threadingly engaging the stud 31 which may be moved into various locations along the threaded stud so that as the plate is initially swung upwardly about its fulcrum 34, the plate will engage the nut 39. When such engagement occurs, the point of fulcruming the plate will be transferred to the nut 39 as the secondary fulcrum and thus swing about this secondary fulcrum 39 to apply pressure at the point of engagement 34 which was the initial fulcrum. Thus the plate will bind upon the upper inner surface 40 of the companion ange 15 of the bridge structure. In order to turn the nut 39 to various locations along the stud 31, a protecting member and handle 41 is secured to either side of the nut 39 so that this may be accomplished, while at the same time this U-shape structure 41 protects the threads of the stud 31 against injury.

A number of these beams may be clamped to the bridge in spaced locations as shown in FIG. 1, and boards 43 may be placed along these beams so as to provide a walkway upon which the worker may stand in order to work the edge of the bridge while posts 44 may be erected at the ends of the beam for supporting a railing 45 for protection.

I claim:

1. A scaffolding device for attachment to an elongated structure of I shape cross section having at each end of a web a pair of oppositely extending companion flanges comprising in combination:

(a) a beam having a planar surface to engage an outer surface of the laterally projecting flanges of said structure while arranged at right angles thereto,

(b) an upstanding inverted L shape bracket attached to said beam with an arm of the bracket for overhanging the inner surface of one of the lateral flanges of the structure,

(c) means extending through said arm for engaging said overhung inner surface,

(d) a yoke movable on said beam toward and from said bracket, and

(e) a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on said yoke with one end engaging the inner surface of the companion lateral flange of the structure and means Q s e to swing the lever about the fulcrum to assist in opening through which the stud is received with means on clamping the beam to the said structure. said stud to provide said fulcrum. 2. A scaffolding devlce as 1n clalm 1 wherein the sec- References Cited in the me of this patent ond means (e) comprises a threaded shaft extending through said lever and engaging said beam to also bind 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS the yoke in position on the beam. 1,143,058 Narron June 15, 1915 3. A scaffolding device as in claim 2 wherein a stud 1,224,309 Lupke May 1, 1917 extends upwardly from said yoke and the lever has an 1,959,129 Geer May 15, 1934 

1. A SCAFFOLDING DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN ELONGATED STRUCTURE OF I SHAPE CROSS SECTION HAVING AT EACH END OF A WEB A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY EXTENDING COMPANION FLANGES COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A BEAM HAVING A PLANAR SURFACE TO ENGAGE AN OUTER SURFACE OF THE LATERALLY PROJECTING FLANGES OF SAID STRUCTURE WHILE ARRANGED AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO, (B) AN UPSTANDING INVERTED L SHAPE BRACKET ATTACHED TO SAID BEAM WITH AN ARM OF THE BRACKET FOR OVERHANGING THE INNER SURFACE OF ONE OF THE LATERAL FLANGES OF THE STRUCTURE, (C) MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ARM FOR ENGAGING SAID OVERHUNG INNER SURFACE, (D) A YOKE MOVABLE ON SAID BEAM TOWARD AND FROM SAID BRACKET, AND (E) A LEVER FULCRUMED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS ON SAID YOKE WITH ONE END ENGAGING THE INNER SURFACE OF THE COMPANION LATERAL FLANGE OF THE STRUCTURE AND MEANS TO SWING THE LEVER ABOUT THE FULCRUM TO ASSIST IN CLAMPING THE BEAM TO THE SAID STRUCTURE. 